Kyiv's patrol police reminded drivers that having a phone conversation while driving is prohibited unless a special headset or other hands-free device is used. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing law enforcement officials. Police emphasize that communication devices may be used while driving exclusively in hands-free mode, and any distraction toward the screen or a manual-mode conversation is considered a traffic violation.
What exactly is prohibited and where the offense is codified
According to the patrol officers' clarification, holding a phone in your hand and talking on it while driving is not permitted under any circumstances. The only acceptable option is using a headset, speakerphone, or another technical solution that does not require the driver to hold the device in their hands. This requirement is enshrined in administrative legislation and serves as the basis for liability if an officer records a violation.
Fine amount and the article of the Code of Administrative Offenses
Having a phone conversation while driving without a hands-free device carries administrative liability under Part 2 of Article 122 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses. The fine is 510 hryvnia. Law enforcement officials remind that this amount is the minimum "price" of distraction, and the real consequences can be far more serious if, due to the conversation, the driver failed to react in time to a change in road conditions.
Why police stress the importance of concentration
The patrol police explain that distraction by a phone significantly reduces a driver's concentration and their ability to react in time to the maneuvers of other road users, pedestrians, and road signs. Even a short conversation or a glance at the screen delays reaction by several seconds, which in urban traffic conditions is enough for an emergency situation to develop. "Be attentive and responsible behind the wheel," law enforcement officials urge.
Context: other sanctions for drivers in 2026
The reminder about the phone fine comes against the backdrop of a broader discussion on driver liability in Ukraine. It was previously reported that the harshest penalty is provided for repeat driving under the influence: a fine of 51,000 hryvnia, a 10-year driving ban, and possible confiscation of the vehicle. In addition, the Verkhovna Rada adopted in the first reading a bill tightening liability for exceeding the permissible vehicle noise level: upon adoption of the document, fines may range from 8,500 to 34,000 hryvnia, and for a repeat violation during martial law, drivers face a 3–6 month license suspension.
